6
1"Flee from the midst of Babylon; let every one save his life!
2Be not cut off in her punishment,
3for this is the time of the LORD's vengeance, the repayment he is rendering her.
7
Babylon was
4a golden cup in the LORD's hand,
5making all the earth drunken;
6the nations drank of her wine; therefore the nations went mad.
8
7Suddenly Babylon has fallen and been broken;
8wail for her!
9Take balm for her pain; perhaps she may be healed.
9
We would have healed Babylon, but she was not healed.
10Forsake her, and
11let us go each to his own country, for
12her judgment has reached up to heaven and has been lifted up even to the skies.
10
13The LORD has brought about our vindication;
14come, let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God.
11
15"Sharpen the arrows! Take up the shields!
16The LORD has stirred up the spirit of the kings of
17the Medes, because
18his purpose concerning Babylon is to destroy it,
19for that is the vengeance of the LORD, the vengeance for
20his temple.
12
21"Set up a standard against the walls of Babylon;
22make the watch strong; set up watchmen; prepare the ambushes;
23for the LORD has both planned and done what he spoke concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.
13
24O you who dwell by many waters, rich in treasures, your end has come; the thread of your life is cut.
14
25The LORD of hosts has sworn by himself: Surely I will fill you with men,
26as many as locusts,
27and they shall raise the shout of victory over you.
15
28"It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
16
When he utters his voice there is a tumult of waters in the heavens, and he makes the mist rise from the ends of the earth. He makes lightning for the rain, and he brings forth the wind from his storehouses.